An evaluation of the University of Botswana Reference Services staff: current and future skills and competencies
Loading...
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The question of skills and competencies of reference staff has been widely debated in the field of reference services. It is evident that technology and user expectations have considerably altered the manner in which reference services are delivered in academic libraries. Scholars such as Chawner and Oliver (2013) argue that Changes in information and communication technology call for library staff involved in providing reference services to develop new skills while at the same time maintaining their traditional skills. Reference service staff requires not only traditional reference skills, but also skills in customer service, good communication skills as well as keeping abreast with the technological changes (Chawner and Oliver 2013). At the University of Botswana Library, reference service is provided in various designated areas by staff from different levels. The study will examine the current University of Botswana reference service staff skills and competencies. Specifically, in our research, we will be looking at three groups of skills and competencies namely general skills, technology skills and personal skills that are essential in the provision of reference services. Reference staff will be asked to indicate activities they carry out as part of their daily activities, the skills and competencies they have as well as the skills and competencies they judge to be important in the provision of reference services. Data will be gathered from all University of Botswana library staff offering a reference service, questionnaires and interviews will be used to collect data. The paper will conclude with discussions of the implications of the findings and practical and approaches to enhance reference staffs skills and competencies. The results will be useful to library managers, staff involved in designing professional development programs as well as to academics in library and information schools that teach reference courses.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Baro, E.E., Idiodi, E.O. & Godfrey, V.Z. (2013). Awareness and use of Web 2.0 tools by librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives, 29(3), 170-188.
Bosanguet, L. (2010). Building relevance amidst the content revolution. Library Management, 31(3), 133-144
Chawner, B. & Oliver, G. (2013.). A survey of New Zealand academic reference librarians: current and future skills and competencies. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, 44 (1), 29-39.
Dole, W.V., Hurych, J.M., & Liebst, A. (2005, Summer). A core competency for library leaders. Library Administration and Management, 19.
Edewor, N., Sunday, G. & Baro, E.E. (2014) Web 2.0 tools : a survey of awareness and use by librarians in University libraries in Africa. The Electronic Library, 32(6), 864-883.
Grgic, I.H., & Zivkovic, Z. (2012). Core competencies for academic reference librariansin Croatia. Qualitative and quantitative methods in libraries (QQMM), 3, 247-256.
Haddow, G. (2012). Knowledge, skills and attributes for academic reference librarians. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, 43 (3), 231-248.
International Standards Organisation (ISO). (1998). ISO 11620 : Information and Documentation – Library Performance indicators.
Malik, A., & Mahmood, K. (2014). Readiness for digital reference service (DRS) in University Libraries: a survey in the Punjab, Pakistan. Information Development, 30 (2), 181-188.
Malik, A., & Mahmood, K. (2013). Infrastructure needed for digital reference services (DRS) in university libraries: An exploratory survey in the Punjab, Pakistan. Library Review, 62 (6/7), 420-428.
Manness, J.M. (2006). Library 2.o theory: Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries. Webology, 2, available at: www.webology.ir
Miles, D.B. (2013). Shall we get rid of the reference desk? Reference and User service quarterly, 52 (4), 320-333.
Pellack, L. J., (2003). Interpersonal skills in the reference workplace. Retrieved from http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/howtocite.html.
RUSA Task Force on Professional Competencies. (2003, January 26). Professional competencies for reference and user services librarians. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines/professional
Saunders, L. (2012). Identifying core reference competencies from an employer’ perspective : Implications for instruction. College and Research Libraries, 73 (4), 390-404.
Saunders, L., & Jordan, M. (2013). Significantly different? Reference services competencies in public and academic libraries. Reference and user service quarterly, 52 (3), 216-23.
Wise, S., Henniger, M., & Kennan, M.A. (2011). Changing trends in LIS job advertisements. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, 42(4), 268-295.